Reader comments
New LDS Web site focuses on the Savior

Tom | 6:43 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

I know personally that my friends of other faiths contend we've only recently begun speaking and preaching of Jesus Christ. That, as you know, is false. I can remember 60 years ago as a 4 year old singing "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam" in church at the Berkeley, California chapel (the only one back then). I guess it makes them (my friends of other faiths) feel more justified in condeming us as "cultists" if they can disassociate our worship of Jesus from our beliefs claiming it is of recent vintage rather than acknowledging it is fundamental from the time of Joseph's first vision in April 1820. This website may help dissuade some from their "convenient truth".

htf | 6:56 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

The multimedia links do not play properly on my computer. I have tried several times without success. As far as I can tell, they are the only ones that do not work on my unit. Even utube will play.

To HTF | 8:16 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Utube video is different from the multimedia at the church site. Make sure you have the current version of Adobe Flash Player installed and working with your browser. If that doesn't work, then you might have to un-install Adobe Flash and then re-install it.

Comments continue below

requires Flash player | 8:17 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

I couldn't see any of the multi-media either until I noticed FireFox was prompting me to install a Flash player. Once I did it worked fine.

re: Tom | 8:17 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Well, I wouldn't be so sure that non-mormons can claim you're a cult. No offense against the church, but the mormon church has many characteristics of a cult (the head guy, tithing, rather strict rules, control over much of your life . . .). Actually, just for fun, you could compare the mormons to Islam. It's fascinating how the two are so much alike. (One for the mormons, though -- they don't go around hijacking planes!)

question | 9:10 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

.
So, why are we focusing on the saviour, now?
.

Dutchman | 9:22 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Stop being insulted by the word cult. The first christians in the early christian church were considered cultists and part of a cult.

answer for 9:10 | 9:42 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

'We' will let you speak first for yourself.

Why (and how) are you focusing on the saviour, now?

David | 9:44 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Well I wonder if the site is also going to focus on Jesus' life, his marriage, his spiritual nature, his origin.

shadow | 3:38 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Shadow has noticed that Mormon ward houses do not have crosses on top, like the Christian churches. In South Korea at night you can see all of the red crosses standing out.

Why no cross?

The Shadow wants to know.

Maggiemae | 4:22 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

I'M also having problems with Multi-Media. I uninstalled and reinstalled Adobe Flash Player. Still doesn't work. HELP!!

Roe | 4:49 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

As a member of the Church and that my Faith is centered around the Savior Jesus Christ and his Atonement for the world, I think it is wonderful that the whole world can read for themselves that the Savior is the head of the church and it is only through him that all can recieve their own Salvation. I look forward to viewing the new site and increasing my personal relationship with my Savior.

To The Shadow | 4:47 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

The cross is a Roman thing, Jesus was a Jew, so if you need to put a monument on your church use the star of David, or if you believe in the resurrection put an Easter Lily, if you are mormon put the angel moroni. Most important don't associate your faith with tokens or signs, look to the spirit.

GilliesGotDLig | 6:33 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

I also have noticed on the absence of the cross on mormon churches. Knowing relatively little about that church, I assume they have different atonement beliefs but I think, To The Shadow, that the cross is very symbolic of Christ's love for us. Why the mormons don't have the cross I don't know. But I think they should.

Koni | 9:14 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

The cross is the symbol of the dying Christ. On the cross he was the dying Jesus. From the tomb he emerged the Living Christ. Because Christ lives we do not use the sumbol of his death as the symbol of our faith. He Said "If ye love me, keep my commandments." We respect those who choose to use the cross. The symbol of Christ's love for us is to follow his teachings and to express our love by trying to live our life as he has shown us. Hope that helps a little. In no way do we condemn those who choose the cross, it's just not what we choose.

Betsy | 10:00 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Jesus Christ lives so why have a symbol that did not conquer Him? I like to focus on the empty tomb.

ROBERT | 10:27 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

The apostle Paul made mention of the cross many times and so did Jesus. Jesus said he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me (Matthew 10:38) and Paul said that the preaching of the cross is to them that are perishing, foolishness, but unto us with are saved it is the power of God (1 Cor. 1:18)

The cross is a symbol of love and life, not death. Jesus died on the cross so that we could all live, if we accepted him (Romans 5:8)

The cross is Jesus love symbol to us!

To ROBERT | 5:59 a.m. March 1, 2008

I am a patriotic American, but I do not wear red, white and blue. I am an alumnus of a university, yet I do not wear a class ring. I am a Christian, but I do not wear a cross.

My devotion to Christ is not predicated on a symbolic representation. Every day I show my faith in Him by what I believe, the thoughts I have and what I say and do.

Anyone that is Christian must wear a cross? Please be careful that you donï¿½t allow all that is good and holy about wearing a cross to become a beam in your eye as you judge me for not wearing one. As in ï¿½And why beholdest thou the mote that is in the brotherï¿½s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?ï¿½ (Mathew 7:3)

ROBERT | 2:47 p.m. March 1, 2008

To "patriotic American" I didn't mention anything about those that did or didn't wear a cross. I was commenting on others that said that the cross was a symbol of death and would rather focus on the empty tomb.

Jesus purchased the sins of mankind on the cross through His shed blood and death on the cross. If Jesus hadn't died on the cross there would be no empty tomb nor a resurrection. Hebrews 9:22 says that without the shedding of blood is no remission of sins.

The apostle Paul said in Galatians 6:14, But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ...

You don't have to wear a cross to "glory in the cross" but if you think it was just a Roman symbol or believe it was just a symbol of death or not a symbol of faith or that the cross is offensive to you then I would say you don't believe that Jesus' death on that cross showed His Love for us by purchasing our sins.

Marie Devine | 8:35 a.m. March 2, 2008

It is wonderful to have a new focus on Jesus remembering that He is the word of God, the same, yesterday, today and forever.

When the angel told the 15 year old Joseph Smith Jr. that none of the churches was correct, and that he was not to join any of those churches. There is not a big difference in the understanding of Jesus Christ between this church and those.

The whole Bible is to be followed, that is the word of Jesus, "Man shall not live by bread alone but by EVERY word that proceeds from the mouth of God. We are not to follow our misunderstandings of Paul, we are to follow Jesus; his words are clear.

The Ten Commandments of Exodus 20 is part of the Law that Jesus, the word of God, gave and it was commanded not to go to the right or left. Jesus said Elias must come first and restore all things; that includes restoring the correct calendar, sabbaths and holy days that were commanded to be forever, but were changed by the Catholic church as prophesied in the Book of Daniel.

Careful reading of Jesus' words bring restoration. Praise God.

Wondering | 8:08 p.m. March 2, 2008

What happened to the LDS Church's traditional focus on Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon? Why is the Church continuing to change its focus and direction; away from Joseph Smith, the first and most important prophet of the restored Church of Jesus Christ?

I was brought up hearing the testimony of all the latter-day prophets, including that of Joseph Smith that the Book of Mormon was [sic] "the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion."

It feels like the Book of Mormon and the experience and doctrines of Joseph Smith are being replaced by something that feels less distinctive and more similar to what other Christian Churches espouse.

I keep wondering; what is going on?

AllTheAnswers | 6:27 a.m. March 3, 2008

Re: Wondering

I have never been a mormon, so I have an unbiased view of the religion. I have many mormon friends. The reason they are drifting away from Joseph Smith is that I don't think he is a wonderful as they believe. He did some questionable things -- but he's human, just like any of us, so he can't have been perfect. He had sins and blunders just like any one of us. Only if the LDS church admits it, JS won't have the desired image. So I can see why they are drifting away from him.

Terrie Bittner | 10:52 a.m. March 3, 2008

Since the church has just embarked on a two year course of study of Joseph Smith's life in church classes, I think it would be hard to say we've drifted away from him.

I don't think this is a new focus in any way. From the time I first began to investigate the church in the 60s and 70s, I saw plenty about the Savior everywhere I looked--all through the buildings, the books, the center of the name of the church...

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